Tour Du Cabane
Monday was supposed to be a great day weather wise warming to -5C and clear blue skies. Later this week the temperature is supposed to plummet so Bryan and I decided to take the opportunity and head out for a weekday ski – get in some trails while the snow is great and the weather matched it. As I was driving up to the park to meet Bryan – trying to pick a trailhead to start – it occurred to me that with two cars (Bryan’s and mine) we could do a traverse of sorts. Park one car here…. drive over there and then ski back to the first car. Bryan seemed game to try so we left his car at the
visitor center and drove off to P12. Between these two points would be lots of options and access to a number of huts along the way. Up we went from P12 meeting the groomer as we climbed and found fresh trails throughout the day – nice! After the climb up to the ridge we popped in to Western Shelter for a quick pit stop. Sadly we found no fire roaring in the woodstove so we got one going and then headed on to Huron shelter in hopes of a warmer reception. Indeed we got just that as we arrived at Huron shelter which was jammed with people. Yes the stove was going but there was barely a spot to sit down. That said, hunger overtook us and we grabbed the last bench farthest from the woodstove and enjoyed our lunch amid the din in the shelter.
The groomers working the trails - courtesy Bryan
Everyones clambering for a little lunch
After lunch we cruised down to Shilly Shally… hardly a long effort. We were just going to get a quick photo but the hut was empty and the fire was roaring so we popped in for a short while. This small hut is rarely unoccupied so we took the moment to enjoy its atmosphere. Clearly the Tour du Cabane was coming together. Next stop Keogan which was also only a short distance along so we took only a quick photo and then headed off. I thought we might take this good opportunity to try some backcountry trails. Sadly today was also the day that the grooming contractor was working a base into them with some skidoos. While this will bode well after future snowfalls it meant a somewhat choppy rutted track left behind by the skidoos so we opted to stay on the main trails for the rest of the day. Soon enough all that was left was the drop down Penguin and over to Bryans car. Bryan had never been down Penguin before (how did that happen?) and he enjoyed most of the experience. On perfect snow it was a fun descent to the picnic field. Once across the Parkway however and on to the final steep drop off he cracked up in a supernova cloud of white “smoke”. Fortunately no injury greater than perhaps a slight bruising. He’ll perhaps have a little limp today – which should earn him major “coolness points” at the water cooler as he tells the tale (which will of course grow in statue the more times he tells it ;-).
Today’s ski was a great one with lots of possibilities for trails to ski. The traverse idea worked exceptionally well although come to think of it, why wouldn’t it? It certainly had a different feel from the standard loop skis I do in the park. I’ll have to sit down and study the map to see what other possibilities present themselves for traverses for the next time we have two cars up in the park. Perhaps we could link six or seven of the cabins together... what about all the cabins on a Grand Tour du Parc! Hmmm,....
Monday was supposed to be a great day weather wise warming to -5C and clear blue skies. Later this week the temperature is supposed to plummet so Bryan and I decided to take the opportunity and head out for a weekday ski – get in some trails while the snow is great and the weather matched it. As I was driving up to the park to meet Bryan – trying to pick a trailhead to start – it occurred to me that with two cars (Bryan’s and mine) we could do a traverse of sorts. Park one car here…. drive over there and then ski back to the first car. Bryan seemed game to try so we left his car at the visitor center and drove off to P12. Between these two points would be lots of options and access to a number of huts along the way. Up we went from P12 meeting the groomer as we climbed and found fresh trails throughout the day – nice! After the climb up to the ridge we popped in to Western Shelter for a quick pit stop. Sadly we found no fire roaring in the woodstove so we got one going and then headed on to Huron shelter in hopes of a warmer reception. Indeed we got just that as we arrived at Huron shelter which was jammed with people. Yes the stove was going but there was barely a spot to sit down. That said, hunger overtook us and we grabbed the last bench farthest from the woodstove and enjoyed our lunch amid the din in the shelter.
After lunch we cruised down to Shilly Shally… hardly a long effort. We were just going to get a quick photo but the hut was empty and the fire was roaring so we popped in for a short while. This small hut is rarely unoccupied so we took the moment to enjoy its atmosphere. Clearly the Tour du Cabane was coming together. Next stop Keogan which was also only a short distance along so we took only a quick photo and then headed off. I thought we might take this good opportunity to try some backcountry trails. Sadly today was also the day that the grooming contractor was working a base into them with some skidoos. While this will bode well after future snowfalls it meant a somewhat choppy rutted track left behind by the skidoos so we opted to stay on the main trails for the rest of the day. Soon enough all that was left was the drop down Penguin and over to Bryans car. Bryan had never been down Penguin before (how did that happen?) and he enjoyed most of the experience. On perfect snow it was a fun descent to the picnic field. Once across the Parkway however and on to the final steep drop off he cracked up in a supernova cloud of white “smoke”. Fortunately no injury greater than perhaps a slight bruising. He’ll perhaps have a little limp today – which should earn him major “coolness points” at the water cooler as he tells the tale (which will of course grow in statue the more times he tells it ;-). 
Today’s ski was a great one with lots of possibilities for trails to ski. The traverse idea worked exceptionally well although come to think of it, why wouldn’t it? It certainly had a different feel from the standard loop skis I do in the park. I’ll have to sit down and study the map to see what other possibilities present themselves for traverses for the next time we have two cars up in the park. Perhaps we could link six or seven of the cabins together... what about all the cabins on a Grand Tour du Parc! Hmmm,....
1 comment:
"Coolness points" is right. I think I even scored bonus points at the water cooler for throwing in words like, "phat", "sick", and "dope". All in all it was a wicked day of skiing that I won't soon forget.
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